Skytop Housing Complex
Contractor: Pyramid Corporation
Materials: Precast concrete exteriors
Cost: $13 million
Location: Skytop--South Campus
Number of Buildings: 90 Buildings containing 764 apartments constructed in two phases: Phase I: 27 Buildings consisting of 260 two-bedroom townhouse apartments; Phase II: 63 Buildings consisting of 344 two-bedroom townhouse apartments, 160 three-bedroom garden apartments, 504 apartments total
Space: All electric utilities, fully carpeted apartments, some furnished
Notes:
Chancellor Melvin A. Eggers announced on April 15, 1972 that Syracuse University and Pyramid Corporation had reached an agreement to construct new housing units and begin a commercial office park on 444 acres in the Skytop area. The project was financed through $30 million in State Dormitory Authority 30-year revenue bonds. Eggers was quoted by the Syracuse Record as saying that, "No university capital or current funds are required over the life of these self liquidating projects."
Construction of Phase I of the apartment units began in May 1972. By the fall of that year 260 two-bedroom townhouse apartments were ready for occupancy by returning students - primarily unmarried undergraduates. Phase II of the Skytop Housing Project started in April 1973, with 344 units planned for completion in time for occupancy by students returning in Fall 1973. The remaining 160 apartments were to be done by October 1973. The last married students' old frame housing in the Slocum Heights area of Skytop was demolished as construction of Phase II got underway.
Replacement of these old dwellings by Phase II buildings was slowed by Pyramid Corporation's failure to meet contract design specifications. Because of these problems Pyramid missed the proposed Fall 1973 completion date for the first 344 apartments of Phase II. Completion of the other 160 units was pushed back, as well. Syracuse University was forced to house students in local hotels at a cost of $1 million until Phase II was ready for all displaced students in February 1974. The University later successfully sued Pyramid to recover the money spent on hotels. By April 1974 the last of Phase II's 504 apartments were finished. Pyramid Corporation crews remained on the scene until July 1974 smoothing grading, doing landscaping, and putting finishing touches on buildings.
